Bacterial meningitis reported at Deerfield Beach school

December 3, 2013|By Wayne K. Roustan, Sun Sentinel

A case of bacterial meningitis was reported Tuesday at Deerfield Park Elementary School in Deerfield Beach, health officials said.

School officials sent home letters and made automated phone calls to parents explaining what to do if their child showed any symptoms that included high fever, chills, fatigue, severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, a rash, or stiffness in the neck and spine.

Bacterial meningitis is spread by nasal or throat secretions through sneezing, coughing or even drinking from the same glass. The incubation period runs from two to 10 days, health officials stated.

Parents were advised to seek immediate medical help if a child or anyone else in the family showed symptoms. A child would not be allowed to return to school until given a doctor's note that states they are healthy enough to return to class.

The Broward Public Health Department informed the school of the case but did not specify if it was a student, teacher, or other school employee who contracted the illness, district spokeswoman Nadine Drew said.